Twister stopping device



Nov. 28, 1950 s. ROBERTS TWISTER STOPPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1948 JNVENTOR. INGHAM S. ROBERT '5.

Nov. 28, 1950 s. ROBERTS TWIS'I'ER STOPPING DEVICE 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. INGHAM S. ROBE/P 71S F led Oct. 1, 1948 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 TWISTER STOPPING DEVICE Ingham S. Roberts, Ridley Park, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation,

Wilmington,

Del., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1948, Serial No. 52,228

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for stopping resiliently supported rapidly rotating mechanisms and particularly to a device which effects emergency stopping of textile twisting or winding machines.

The invention will be described with reference to a two-for-one strand twisting machine of conventional design since this machine typifies apparatus comprising portions which are selfpropelled at high rotative speeds relative to a housing or bearing member. Such a member is ordinarily supported on resilient pads or spring devices which permit cushioning or absorption of vibration or other movement of the assembly comprising the member and the rotatable parts. .The resilient support is such that the assembly may undergo universal movement or oscillation with respect to the axis of the machine. The rotor of a two-for-one twisting machine of standard construction includes a driving motor armature, the shaft of which is extended to support a flyer secured thereto and rotatable therewith, and a package holder supported thereon by anti-friction bearings so that it may be held stationary. The rotor speeds of this machine are normally in the range of 6000 to 10,000 revolutions per minute. Machines of this type are subject'to an occasional interruption in operation resulting from a mechanical failure such as bearing seizure or tangling or snarling of the strand as it is drawn from the package. The package holder and the package supported thereon is prevented from turning so that two twists are put into the yarn for every revolution of the rotor. One satisfactory arrangement for preventin rotation of the package holder consists of magnets attached to a nonrotating part of the machine which act on steel elements of the package holder. No particular care is taken in the construction of the package holder or in the placement of the package thereon to obtain dynamic balance about the rotor axis. Hence, if on account of an irregularity in the operation of the machine, such as seizure of the holder bearings, the holder and the package start rotating, slight unbalance in the rotor and package cause the rotor assembly and housing therefor to oscillate or otherwise move on the resilient supporting means. Movements'of minor amplitude such as produced during normal operating conditions or stopping and starting are readily absorbed by the resilient supports or mountings and effectively reduce the wear and maintenance on the machine. However, the mountings do not provide protection against some of the more serious difllculties which may occur, such as a bearing seizure, except insofar as they permit unusual movement or vibration of resiliently supported parts, indicating to an observer improper operation 01' the machine.

It is an object therefore to provide stopping means for winding 0r twisting machinery typifled by the two-for-one strand twister wherein a rotor assembly is supported in meam capable of oscillatory movement normal to the rotor axis in response to unbalanced rotational forces; It is another object to provide emergency stopping means for machinery comprising a. resilient-' ly supported high speed rotor operable in the event of mechanical failure. Still another object is to provide deceleration means for a resiliently supported rotor while eliminating the necessity for mechanical brakes and the like. It is a fur ther object to provide a greatly simplified and easily maintained mechanism for effecting routine and emergency stopping of individual machines such as found in batteries or groups of textile winding and twisting machines. Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent in the following description of the in-' vention and the drawing relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is an elevation view partly in section along the rotor axis of a two-for-one twisting machine containing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section view along line 11-11 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates an electrical circuit for interrupting the flow of power to a rotor driving means;

Fig. 4 illustrates another electrical circuit employing a double-pole double-throw switch adapted for reversing the current to the drive means during deceleration thereof;

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the circuit illustrated in Fig. 2 containing a time delay relay switch;

Fig. 6 is a further modification of the circuit illustrated in Fig. 3 incorporating a double-pole centrifugal switch operated by the rotating element of the driving means;

Fig. 7 is a top view of a unit containing four microswitches with the top cover removed;

Fig. 8 is a section of the unit taken along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram including the unit illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 for controlling the electrical power to the driving means for the rotor.

'trical driving motor ll.

In brief, the invention comprises automatic means for stopping a mechanism contained within a resiliently supported or suspended housing. The automatic means is an electrical circuit controlling device operated by contact with the housing when it vibrates or performs movement of unusual amplitude in response to improper operation of the mechanism. In the various modifications of the automatic means illustrated. electrical power for. driving the mechanism may be controlled to permit coasting of the mechanism to a dead stop or to produce rapid deceleration effects such as by reversal of the current during a portion or all of the deceleration period.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, a two-for-one twisting machine, illustrated in a partially sectioned elevation view, comprises an electrical motor II and a spindle shaft I: supported on and in alignment with the motor shaft. The spindle shaft i2 supports a rotatable package support I! (prevented fromrotating by means such as magnetic or gravity means hereinafter described) and a rotatable flyer It secured to the shaft. The entire assembly comprising the motor i'l, package holder i8, and flyer it is resiliently supported upon-the machine frame member is by a plu rality of resilient supporting devices It. The package holder I8 is prevented from turning by electromagnets l4 secured to the motor housing acting upon iron or steel cleats l1 secured within the lower surface of the package holder.

The supports. I 8 may be of any of the many types used to absorb vibrations while supporting machinery of vibration-producing tendencies such as high speed rotary mechanisms. A force such as from a vibration applied to a support ll through the pin. II from any direction whatsoever will be resisted and absorbed within the resilient elements 23 and 24 of the assembly constituting the support It. These supports comprise an outer rigid sleeve 22, annular resilient or-rubber-like members 28 and 24 preferably secured at either end of the sleeve 22, and pins and 21 extending through sleeves 29 and Ill secured within the rubber-like members 23 and 24 respectively. The pin 20 extends through an aperture therefor through the plate 3|; a collar II is secured to the pin. The pin 21 extends through an aperture in the frame it and is provided with a collar is similarly to pin 20.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the plate 34 of generally circular contour except for the straight section 35 of its periphery which permits closer positioning toward the axis of rotation of the machine of a switch unit in including a buttonpushing lever IN to eii'ect compactness.

Fig. 3-1:: a circuit diagram wherein the power shown supplied through lines 40 and 4| connected to a double-pole single-throw trip switch 44. Line 42 is connected with one phase of the elec- The switch is tripped open when the button 4'! is engaged by the plate 84 during excessive vibration or wobbling of the twisting machine. The switch may be reset or the circuit closed by pushing the reset button 0. When using this type of control, a driving motor such as the motor ll coasts to a stop. Although the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 is the most simplified type of circuit control to be herein described, on account of the vibration that may occur over a considerable time interval while the mechanism is coming to a stop, the modifications to be hereinafter described may be preferred.

By using a double-pole double-throw switching arrangement current may be reversed in two of 4 the three phases of a driving motor to reverse the rotationof the motor to obtain a greatly shortened deceleration period for the machine.

In the control system illustrated in Fig. 4, two of the three phases carried in lines 40, II and I! are connected to the movable terminals I8 and II of the double-pole double-throw switch. Line I! is connected directly with the remaining terminal of the motor It. The terminals II and II normally assume an intermediate position between 2 sets of stationary terminals of the switch by reason or their being mounted on a spring member II. In normal operation of the motor, the

terminals I8 and II are in contact with the stationary II and 52 to maintain two lines of the normal operating circuit of the motor II. The movable terminals are held in contact with terminals II and I2 by the influence of a magnet I on an armature ll attached to the spring member II. In the position of the movable terminals intermediate of the two sets of stationary terminals, the armature II is out of the influence or Thus when the motor I I vibrates sumciently. the portion I4 thereof engages the push buttons Bl secured to the spring member it. The movable terminals SI are moved out of contact with terminals BI and I2 and into contact with the other set of stationary terminals as and II. Terminals l8 and 59 are connected with the motor terminals which are also supplied by and connected with terminals 8i and 52 but in a manner such as to reverse the flow of the current and to cause the motor to rapidly decelerate when the spring member is deflected by the motor member 34. When the motor has been slowed to a speed at which the vibration subsides to the extent that the motor portion 34 no longer touches or engages the push button 56, the lever It carries the terminals 53 and 55 out of contact with terminals 58 and 59 into their normal position intermediates! the two sets of stationary terminals and the motor\l l and connected rotative parts coast to a stop.

Fig. 5 illustrates a variation in the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 by which a time delay relay switch has been incorporated into the electrical control system to eifect complete stoppage of the motor. II'. By this arrangement, portion 34 of the machine moves the button or lever portion 02 of switch 83 out of contact with the terminals 6! and II, and into contact with the terminals 88 and It. Thus the flow of current is discontinued to two phases of the motor it through the terminals CI and 66. When the switch makes contact with the terminals BI and 89 the current is reversed with respect to the phases of the motor and the motor is rapidly decelerated. However, in this position of the switch another circuit is closed through the terminal 69 which energizes the coil ll of the relay switch 10. The delay relay coil H is adjusted to hold the reverse current on the motor for an interval which is indicated by experience to be necessary to nearly stop the machine and then it opens the circuits to the motor. The coil 1| operates the switch 13 and breaks the motor circuits at terminals 14 and 15. The machine is again put into operation by closing the switch 63 with respect to the terminals and it by a reset button 11. As applied to the two-forone twister which is shown in Fig. 1, the relay "is sometimes adjusted to allow time for the flyer it to reach substantially full speed in a direction opposite to its normal direction before it shuts oil the current to the motor. This rapid reverse rotation stabilizes the assembly while the the magnet I4.

i switches.

package support 85 is coasting to a stop. This adjustment is generally used when accidental rotation of the. package support by the operator, or rotation due to partial seizure of the bearings Hi and i2! is more probable than rotation due to complete and sudden seizure of these bearings. A snap action double-throw switch of conventional design may be used with the arrangement of Fig. 5 to provide fast and precise operation.

Fig. 6 illustrates a circuit arrangement in which a double-pole double-throw switch construction similar to switch 63 of Fig. 5 is used to obtain reversal of current through 2 phases of the motor ii. However if the circuit is broken with respect to terminals 82 and 83 and closed with respect to terminals 85 and 86, current passes through a conventional double-pole centrifugal switch 88 having terminals 90 and iii and mounted on the motor and thenthrough the phases of the motor in the reverse direction. As a result the rotor of the motor is decelerated rapidly until the switch is no longer held closed by centrifugal force at terminals 90 and 9! against springs 95 and 94 which urge the switch to an open position; with the flow of power thus terminated, the motor ii coasts to a stop. The centrifugal switch 88 may be adjusted to open the motor circuit at any speed desired; preferably it is adjusted to cut out at very slow speeds of the motor. The machine may thereafter be put into operation by resetting the switch til by means of a reset button 96.

Figs. '7, 8, and 9 show a group of four microswitches set in a single unit, the top view being shown in Fig. '7 and an end view being shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 illustrates the circuit arrangement for these switches. It will be recognized that this is essentially similar to the circuit arrangement which is shown in Fig. 4. In the unit tilt as shown in Fig. '7, switches it! and its are closed when buttons Hi5 and it are contacted by a lever it? normally held away from the buttons by a spring H9 when the lever is not deflected by the motor part 3%. The lever is secured by its lower end as viewed in Fig. 8 to the wall it. A small spacer element i2t such as a rivet through the lever ifll holds the lever away from the inner surface of the wall of the unit we. Switches lit and iii are opened when buttons H3 and lit are pushed by the lever m. Switches iii] and iii are of the reset type and both switches may be simultaneously reset by pushing button lib which engages the small buttons iii and lit.

The lever ml, which engages all four buttons of the switches in the unit, is so shaped that the buttons H3 and iii are engaged before buttons its and we during deflection of the lever iii'i. Because switches iii] and iii control the motor circuits in normal operation of the machine, it is desired to break these circuits before closing the current-reversing circuit controlled by switches Hi2 and I03 to avoid all possibility of a short circuit. To obtain this result, the side margins of the lever Hill which engage the buttons of the outer surfaces may be bent away from the plane of the surface of the lever which contacts the buttons H3 and lid of the inner In the circuit diagram in Fig. 9 it will be seen that as the lever it! is moved inwardly toward the buttons of the switches, the circuits connecting two of the power lines 40 and M with two phases of the motor Ii and carried by switches H0 and iii are first opened and the buttons of switches I03 and I02 are then engaged to reverse the motor circuits which norment such as a take-up means operated in con-- junction with the twisting device. If desired, the solenoid or similarly connected device may be omitted.

The proximity of the switch operating means in relation to the twisting machine housing, i. e.,

the resiliently supported portion of the machine,

will be determined by experiment since it is dependent upon the amplitude of the vibration of movement made by the resiliently supported portion during ordinary operation including starting and stopping of the machine. The switches will be set at sufllcient clearance with respect to the member at of the machine to be operated by contact resulting from vibration and movement greater than a predetermined amplitude.

The invention herein described may be used instead of various mechanical and electrical brake setting mechanisms now in use for the emergency stopping of textile winding and twisting machines by the simple expedient of using the vibration of an improperly operating machine to actuate circuit breaking means for circuits supplying power to the driving means of the machine.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, it is understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting the spindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearingmember for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member, electrical driving means for the spindle, and a circuit for supplying power thereto, the combination therewith of a control device comprising a movable element disposed adjacent to the bearing member to be engaged thereby during excessive oscillations thereof, and means responsive to engagement of the element by the member for interrupting the supply of power to the driving means to initiate stopping thereof.

2. In a strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting the spindlecomprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearingmember for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member, electrical driving means for the spindle, and a circuit for supplying power thereto, the combination therewith of a control device comprising a movable element disposed adjacent to the bearing member to be engaged thereby dur ing excessive oscillations thereof, and means responsive to engagement of the element by the member for opening the circuit.

3. In a strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting the spindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member;

electrical driving means for the spindle, and a circuit for supplying power thereto, the combination therewith of a control device comprising a 4. In a two-for-one strand twister comprisinga spindle, means for mounting the spindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member, electrical driving means for the spindle, and a circuit for supplying power thereto, the combination therewith of a control device comprising a movable element disposed adjacent to the member to be engaged thereby during oscillations thereof which are of greater amplitude than those produced during normal running, starting and stopping, and a circuit opening device in the circuit responsive to engagement of the element by the member. 1

5'. In a two-for-one strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting the spindle comtions 0! the member, a three-phase motor tor driving the spindle, and a three-phasecircuit for supplying power to the motor, the combination therewith of control apparatus comprising a double-pole double-throw trip switch with the movable terminals thereof connected to two phases of a supply circuit, said movable terminals being normally in contact with a pair or stationary terminals connected with the motor during normal operation of the machine, lever means connected with the movable terminals 01' the switch and disposed adjacent to the bearing member so as to be engaged thereby and to actuate the switch during excessive oscillations of the member whereby the switch is tripped and the members are moved out of engagement with said pair of stationary terminals into engage-- ment with a second pair of stationary terminals. a double-pole delay-relay switch connected with the second-named pair of stationary terminals, a solenoid coil ior actuating the delay-relay double-pole switch, a circuit for energizing'the coil connected with one oi the second-named pair of stationary terminals of the double-throw prising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member, a three-phase motor for driving the spindle, and a three-phase circuit for supplying power to the motor, the combination therewith of control apparatus comprising a switch for opening and closing two phases oi the circuit, said switch having a lever supporting a pair of movable terminals normally in contact with a pair of fixed terminals connected with the motor, said lever disposed adjacent to the bearing-member so that the lever is engaged and deflected by the member during excessive oscillations thereof to carry the movable terminals out of contact with the stationary terminals to thereby open the circuit to the motor.

6. In a two-for-one strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting the spindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member, a three-phase motor for driving the spindle, and a three-phase circuit for supplying power to the motor, the combination therewith of control apparatus comprising a double-throw switch having a pair of movable terminals connected with two phases of a supply circuit, a pair of stationary terminals connected with two terminals'of the motor, lever means for supporting the movable terminals and disposed adjacent to the bearing-member so as to be engaged thereby during excessive oscillations thereof, means urging the lever means to hold the movable terminals in contact with the set of stationary terminals in the absence of an 'oppositely directed force on the lever means, and a second pair of stationary terminals in the switch connected with the terminals of the motor and arranged to be engaged by the movable terminals and to reverse the current to the terminals of the motor when movement of the lever means carries the movable terminals out of contact with the first-named pair of stationary terminals and into contact with the last-named pair.

7. In a two-for-one strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting the spindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillaswitch, said coil circuit being closed by engagement of the movable terminals with the secondnamed stationary pair, said delay-relay switch being connected to reverse the current with respect to the current direction for normal operation, and a reset means for the double-throw switch.

8. In a strand twister comprising a spindle,

means for mounting the spindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory move-,-

ment of the spindle into oscillations of the member, a three-phase motor for driving the spindle. and a three-phase circuit for supplying power to the motor, the combination therewith of control apparatus comprising a double-pole doublethrow switch having movable terminals connected ,to two phases of the circuit, a pair of connectors between one pair of stationary terminals of the switch and the motor, a second pair of connectors connecting the other pair of stationary switch terminals and the motor in reverse order, lever means connected with the movable terminals of the switch and disposed adjacent to the bearingmember so as to be engaged thereby and to actuate the switch during excessive oscillations oi the member whereby the switch is tripped and the movable members are moved out of engagement with the first-named stationary terminals and into connection with the second-named stationary terminals, a double-pole delay-relay switch in the second set of conductors, a solenoid coilforactuating the delay-relay switch, a circuit for energizing the coil connected to one of the secondnamed set of terminals of the double-throw switch, said coil circuit being closed by engagement of the movable set and the second-named stationary set of terminals oi the double-throw switch, and a reset means for the double-throw switch.

9. In a strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting the spindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member, a three-phase motor for driving the spindle, and a three-phase circuit for supplying power to the motor, the combination therewith of control apparatus comprising a double-pole double-throw trip switch having movable terminals connected to two phases of the circuit, a set of connectors between one set of stationary terminals of the switch and the motor, another set. of connectors between the other set of stationary terminals of the switch for reversing the flow of current to the motor, a centrifugal switch positioned and connected to open the circuits carried .by the secondnamed set of conductors, said centrifugal switch being maintained in closed position by centrifugal force developed at rotative speeds of the motor above a predetermined minimum, and a lever for supporting and moving the movable terminals of the double-throw switch and disposed adjacent to the bearing-member so as to be engaged thereby during excessive oscillation thereof thereby actuating the tripping mechanism of the switch to carry the movable terminals out of contact with the first-named set of stationary terminals and into contact with the second-named set.

10. In a two-for-one strand twister comprising a spindle, means for mounting thespindle comprising a resiliently supported non-rotatable bearing-member for the spindle which converts gyratory movement of the spindle into oscillations of the member, a three-phase motor for driving the spindle, and a three-phase circuit for supplying power to the motor, the combination therewith of control apparatus comprising a unit comprising a plurality 01' units, of single-pole switches secured to a stationary portion of the twister of which one group of normally closed switches are located in the lines oz. the circuit and a second group of normally opened switches are placed in other lines for reversing the flow o! current to the motor, flexible means secured within the unit and extending at a close clearance with respect to the bearing-member so as to be engaged by the member during excessive oscillation thereof, said flexible means having a portion which engages and actuates the switches when the flexible means is deflected by engagement therewith of the bearing-member.

11. In a two-tor-one strand twister having a control apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the switches which are normally closed for the transmission of power during normal operation are spaced with respect to the lever and with respect to the switches for transmitting reversed currents to the motor so that the first-named switches are actuaed by engagement of the lever before it actuates the last-named switches.

12. In a twister having control apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the lever is shaped so that when deflected it first opens the switches in the lines for transmitting power during normal operation before closing the switches in the power-reversing lines.

INGHAM S. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,531,531 November 28, 1950 INGHAM s. ROBERTS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 56, for the Word conductors read connectors;

andthat the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 27th day of February, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

